Get your luscious lashes on fleek
With a few tips, tweezers and practise there’s nothing to it, writes Gerry Cupido
INEVER leave home without at least one coat of mascara. Sadly I’m one of those unfortunate women who have very fine lashes and when don’t wear any mascara, it looks like I have no lashes.
By emphasising your lashes, you create the appearance of bigger and more wide-awake eyes. Wearing mascara helps enhance the shape of your eyes.
There are times when you want the appearance of even fuller and longer lashes that can’t be achieved with a few coats of mascara. False eyelashes are the perfect solution for the women looking for a more dramatic look.
For some, false lashes can be intimidating though. It does involve glue after all. It’s rare that you manage to apply falsies perfectly on your first attempt.
Beauty bloggers make it look so easy on their tutorials but what they don’t show you is how much they practised before they perfected the technique. Don’t be too hard on yourself when, after watching all the tutorials, you still somehow manage to glue your eyelids together.
Most people assume that false eyelashes are reserved for stage performers and drag queens. There are some women (and men) who might want over-sized and unnatural looking lashes, particularly when they’re looking to add extra drama. Why wouldn’t you want to go crazy when you can find so many different types of falsies – from bling tips to all colours of the rainbow.
For the women looking for more natural-looking lashes, there are just as many options, varying in length and thickness.
What to look out for
Here a few things to look out for when shopping for lashes, as well as tips on how to apply them.
Opt for ones with a clear band (the strip the lashes are attached to).
Black bands are a sure telltale sign you’re wearing falsies and are more difficult to conceal.
A full strip of lashes can be intimidating and trickier to apply than singles (individual) or trio lashes. Trio lashes are easier to work with though since single ones tend to be small and fine.
The last thing you need is one stray lash twisting out of place if not applied correctly. Applying trios is as simple as dipping them into the glue and placing them where you want them.
Use dark lash glue instead of the white one that often comes with lashes since it’s harder to cover up. Some clear glues have a tendency to dry to white though.
Unless you have small fingers, it’s easier to use tweezers to apply the lashes. They come in handy when you need to press down the falsies onto your own lashes.
Apply yourself
Which brings me to where the lashes need to be applied. Where do your lashes appear thickest? That’s where you start applying them. Then work towards the corners.
Apply them as close to your own lash line as possible and not to your eyelids. You don’t want to have a gap between your own lashes and the false ones. Nothing looks more unnatural than two rows of lashes.
Mascara magic
Now that you’ve successfully applied the lashes, it doesn’t mean you can skip the mascara stage.
A coat or two helps to blend your natural lashes into the falsies. It gives a more rounded-off look.
Removal
One of the advantages of fake lashes is that they’re temporary and at the end of the day, you get to remove them.
This process can be as daunting as applying them because there’s the fear that you’ll remove your own lashes or damage your eyelids in the process.
If you’ve invested in expensive falsies, you wouldn’t want to break them either.
Start by removing your eye make-up with make-up remover.
You could use either the same makeup remover, or baby oil, on a clean cotton bud and gently rub it on the lash line until you the lash glue starts to dissolve.
Using your tweezers, slowly start removing the lashes from the inner corner of your eye and work towards the outer corner.